The key elements of the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) National Strategy are fostering collaboration, enhancing capacity and increasing knowledge about breast cancer. Through funding the very best breast cancer research in Australia, NBCF will move towards its aspirational goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

Breast cancer directly and indirectly impacts thousands of Australian women, men, their families and friends. Improved detection and more effective treatments have seen breast cancer survival rates significantly improve over the last two decades. Despite these encouraging results, a continued and concerted research effort is needed to improve the quality of life for those living with breast cancer, as well as moving towards breast cancer prevention and ultimately, a cure.

By supporting passionate people, brilliant ideas, enduring resources and empowering collaboration, NBCF aims to deliver funding to high quality breast cancer research projects right across the spectrum – from understanding the fundamental basis of the disease, to psychosocial research aimed at improving the quality of life for survivors, their family and friends.

Passionate people

NBCF allocates funds to help build a sustainable, multidisciplinary and highly trained research workforce, with a particular focus on supporting early to mid career researchers. NBCF Fellowships aim to attract, train and retain the next generation of breast cancer researchers.

Brilliant ideas

Funds to support the implementation of novel, cutting edge ideas in breast cancer research are offered by NBCF through Novel Concept Awards. Novel Concept Awards support projects that challenge existing paradigms or break new theoretical ground. This award provides investigators with the opportunity to pursue serendipitous observations and encourages the development of innovative, forward thinking, avenues of investigation.

Enduring resources

NBCF offers Infrastructure Grants to support key resources that are critical to underpin breast cancer research, both nationally and internationally. Examples may include the establishment of national breast cancer tissue banks, large scale genetic sequencing platforms and data registries.

Empowering collaboration

NBCF has several funding initiatives that are designed to drive collaboration across research disciplines, as well as both national and international borders. Bringing scientists together across multiple disciplines is a key focus to bring new perspectives to breast cancer research and accelerate progress.

A National Action Plan for breast cancer research

NBCF’s National Action Plan for Breast Cancer Research was originally developed in 2004 after extensive consultation with expert advisory committee, research communities and other stakeholders. Outlining several actions that would accelerate efforts to answer the key questions about breast cancer, NBCF have acted on the recommendations by introducing, for example, the Novel Concept Awards and the National Collaborative Breast Cancer Research Grant Program.

In 2010, NBCF published a revised National Action Plan, listing 12 priority areas, which, if realistically resourced, would have a significant impact on our understanding of the causes of breast cancer, leading to strategies for the prevention, improved detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The National Action Plan provides a comprehensive and challenging framework for concerted action against breast cancer.